Armenian Holocaust Denial from the US Council of Muslim Organizations

It is estimated that one and a half million Armenians perished between 1915 and 1923, at the hands of the Ottoman Turks, in a genocide (yes, genocide)that is not widely acknowledged even today.  

On the 100th anniversary of this tragedy, the  US Council of Muslim Organization, an "umbrella" institution that includes CAIR and American Muslims for Palestine in its ranks has issued a press release denying the Armenian genocide, out of fear of alienating Turkey, a "key ally". The US Council  calls the Armenian claims "one-sided" , saying that "proper investigation" is needed, adding that any acknowledgment must also recognize "Turkish and Muslim suffering". 

The press release issued by Oussama Jammal, Secretary General of USCMO

is reprinted in its entirety below.

Washington, DC, April 19, 2015) — The US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO) the largest umbrella group of mainstream Muslim American organizations is aware of the painful history of over 30 nations fighting for over 4 years and the loss of over 37 million lives in World War I, including those of the Armenians.

As April 24 comes near, we share the pain suffered by Armenians during this period. We also believe that any acknowledgment by religious or political leaders of the tragedy that befell Armenians should be balanced, constructive and must also recognize Turkish and Muslim suffering.

In this respect, characterizing the events of 1915 as genocide without proper investigation of these events by independent historians will not only jeopardize the establishment of a just memory pertaining to these events, but will also damage the efforts aimed at achieving reconciliation between Turks and Armenians.

As Americans, we are concerned about alienating a key ally, Turkey, through one-sided declarations that political and religious leaders have made on this subject. The events of 100 years ago should be based on a consensus among historians and academicians with access to archives and documents from that era.

As the only Muslim-majority member of NATO and current President of the G-20 Summit, Turkey has taken on a unique regional and global leadership role in ensuring peace and prosperity for all. Our government has been closely cooperating with the Turkish government on defeating ISIS while also alleviating the suffering of Syrian refugees.

While Muslim Americans sympathize deeply with the loss of Armenian lives in 1915, we also believe that reconciliation must take into honest account the broader human tragedy of World War I. Muslim Americans expect our leaders to act accordingly to ensure that American-Turkish strategic relations are not damaged by a one-sided interpretation of the 1915 events.

Founding members of USCMO: American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA), Muslim American Society (MAS), Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA), Muslim Ummah of North America (MUNA), The Mosque Cares (Ministry of Imam W. Deen Mohammed).

Pope Francis in a Mass last week in an Armenian Rite mass  in St. Peter's Basilica described the massacre of the Armenians the "first genocide of the 20th century, " adding "Concealing or denying evil is like allowing a wound to keep bleeding without bandaging it."  

Rather than take the lead towards healing by acknowledging this painful event,  the US Council of Muslim Organizations is allowing this wound to fester.

For Bay Area events commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide go to the website  Remember and Demand .  Adolf Hitler, in planning his reign of terror declared "Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?"  We must. It  is a moral imperative of Jewish and Zionist groups to formally recognize this atrocity. Silence begets silence.

Jewish Voice for Peace. Aiding and Abetting Anti-Semites. Again.

 The 2015 AIPAC Policy conference was the largest ever, with over 16,000 supporters of strong bonds between Israel and America attending.  Of those, 3,000 were college students, ground zero in the campaign against Israel.  A variety of fringe groups protested the event. Jewish Voice for Peace proudly stood shoulder to shoulder with notoriously anti-Semitic groups in its protest of the conference. The group was silent as a Hezbollah terror flag was unfurled at their protest.  Later that week, the same groups joined forces to protest Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech to Congress

In an email, Hatem Bazians' American Muslims for Palestine boasted of the alliance, which also included such fringe groups as the Neturai Karta and Code Pink

In Algemeiner, Yizthak Santis asks  "Why is a self-styled “Jewish organization” collaborating with rabid anti-Israel campaigners, including antisemites?", chronicling how Jewish Voice for Peace's partnership with groups that use anti-Semitic rhetoric belie its claims  that “as Jews, we have no tolerance for antisemitism”

He writes:

With such partners, it should come as no surprise that JVP endorses the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. This is consistent with JVP activities such as attempting to block ZIM cargo ships from unloading in Tampa and in Los Angeles, participating in the Free Gaza flotillas, and raising funds for the anti-Zionist International Solidarity Movement.

Why does JVP associate itself with such radical, hateful organizations? Perhaps it is because they share the same goal: Israel’s demise. To this end, JVP advances a one-sided anti-Israel narrative, refers to Israel as an “apartheid” state, and lobbies to distance the United States from Israel. JVP views itself as the “Jewish wing of the Palestinian Solidarity movement” and is an integral part of this anti-Israel coalition, serving as its “Jewish shield,” washing away the moral stain of antisemitism from their partners’ records.

Given JVP’s emphatic statement that “as Jews, we have no tolerance for antisemitism,” the organization should be the first to speak out against its allies’ antisemitic rhetoric. Yet JVP remains silent, showing it has a blind spot when anti-Jewish hate emanates from its anti-Israel comrades. This willingness to consort with antisemites hiding behind an anti-Zionist façade says much more about JVP’s character than Israel, the sole target of its vitriolic and obsessive criticism.

Read it all here:

Jewish Voice for Peace: aiding and abetting the Haters

Jewish Voice for Peace, the self described "Jewish wing"  of the Palestinian solidarity movement will be co-sponsoring  a conference with  the  Council for Islamic America Relations, the Muslim students Association and  American Muslims for Palestine.

Of course, Jewish voice for peace no longer claims to be a Jewish organization, but rather one inspired by "Jewish values". Its unclear what "Jewish value" is represented by finding common cause with those that seek to destroy us.


Speaking at the conference will be Ali Abunimah,  Hatem Bazian and Max Blumenthal. JVP should feel right at home.

American Muslims for Palestine: 26 murderers are "political prisoners"

 Today, extremist group American Muslims for Palestine issued this statement:(emphasis mine)

AMP congratulates released prisoners and their families; remembers those still incarcerated

The American Muslims for Palestine, a national education and advocacy organization, today congratulates the 26 Palestinians who were released from Israeli incarceration after being held for decades as political prisoners. At the same time we remember the thousands still being held in contravention on international law and vow we will not tire until every last Palestinian is free from occupation and until all Palestinian refugees can return to their homeland.

Political prisoners?

All of the 26 prisoners released were either convicted of murder or attempted murder. They were thugs. Criminals. Murderers.

Among those released include:

 Damouni Saad Mohammed Ahmed, convicted in the brutal lynching of IDF reservist Amnon Pomerantz in 1990.

Massoud Issa Rajib Amer, convicted  in 1993 of brutally hacking to death Ian Feinberg. Amer was also convicted of killing three Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel.

 Tukeman Yusef Suleiman Mahmed, Abu Hanana Zakariya Udia Usama, and Abdel-Aziz Said Kassam Ahmed, involved in the 1992 shooting death of Moshe Biton.

Samarin Mustafa Kalib Asrar and Kra'an Azat Musa Musa,  abducted and murdered Israeli soldier Tzvi Klein in the West Bank in 1992

 Abu-Dahila Hasan Atik Sharif  murdered his employer  Avi Osher.

Gnimat Amar Mahmad Mustafa and Gnimat Mahmoud Mahmad Ziad, convicted in the murder of Meir Ben-Yair and Michal Cohen.

Yosef Mahmad Haza Haza and Beni-Hasan Abdalla Mahmud Otman murdered  two hikers

Asor Masbach Khalil Mahmad murdered  an Israeli taxi driver David Kaspi

Abed al Raba Nimr Jabril Issa murdered Revital Seri and Ron Levy while they were hiking in 1984
 
Sabbag Ahmed Mahmud Mahmed , who tortured and killed three Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel in 1990.

American Muslims for Palestine  has been identified by the ADL as one of the top United States groups  "fixated with delegitimizing Israel."

Does Jewish Voice for peace, AMP's regular partner in slime also feel that the murderers of Israeli citizens were "political prisoners" ? Does it also brush off the the deaths of innocent civilians?  If not, why does it continue to stand shoulder to shoulder  and work with those who believe Jewish blood is cheap?

JVP aligns itself with anti-Semitic groups

AMP's Apartheid Ads. The backlash continues.

What do you do when the truth doesn't serve your narrow political agenda?   American Muslims for Palestine chooses to ignore it.    In an effort to stem the backlash against their defamatory "apartheid"  ads, AMP  has urged its constituency to call the City's Board of Supervisors, claiming that “free speech” is under attack by the JCRC, a "pro occupation" organization

Pro occupation?  Since at least 2007, the JCRC has had this consensus statement on its website:

Endorsing a two state solution with equal rights for all puts JCRC squarely in the camp of the moderates, as opposed to AMP or JVP, who will not endorse the only solution that grants self determination to both the Jewish people and the Palestinian people.

From AMP:

The JCRC has issued a press release referencing a letter signed by seven SF supervisors that
     A) Condemns AMP
     B) Asks the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority (Muni) to ban political speech ads
     C) Asks Muni to donate the proceeds from AMP”s ad to a fund to serve the Jewish community. (To counter the hurtful effect of Geller’s hate-speech ad, Muni donated the proceeds from it to fund a study of the health impact of Islamophobia on Arabs and Muslims in the Bay area.)

Here’s the letter:   It does none of these things.  It does not condemn AMP, only the inappropriate ads, characterizing them as "hurtful" and "alienating".   It does not ask for a ban on political speech, but rather an exploration of  "a creative solution' to this "growing war of words".  It asks that the proceeds of the ad go to the Human Rights Commission.

With its use of the term  "apartheid", and with the incendiary and inexact language  it uses to spur its constituency to action, the American Muslims for Palestine show again that are living in a truth optional world, continuing to propagate misinformation in order to promote their extremist agenda.
Fortunately seven of our City Supervisors were able see through this.

Thank you, San Francisco Supervisor Scott Weiner

Thank you, Supervisors Weiner, Breed, Cohen, Farrell,  Tang and Yee,  and President of the Board Chiu. These seven have taken a principled and moral stand, and have asked the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency to donate the proceeds of the highly inflammatory AMP "apartheid" Muni bus ads to the the Human Rights Commission.  The SFMTA has also been asked review their advertising policies to ensure that public transport remains a safe place for all passengers, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation or political beliefs. Please thank them for their efforts

From an article at the SF Gate Blog

When advertisements went up on Muni buses implying that Muslims are “savages,” the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency donated the revenue from the ad campaign to the Human Rights Commission. Now several supervisors are asking why the same isn’t being done for ads calling Israel an “apartheid” state.
Supervisor Scott Wiener and six of his colleagues sent a letter to MTA Executive Director Ed Reiskin Monday urging the agency to fork over the $5,030 from American Muslims for Palestine to the HRC to “be used to fight growing intolerance alienating the Jewish community.”
“I don’t think the MTA should be accepting dirty money, whether that dirty money comes from anti-Muslim bigots or whether that dirty money comes from enemies of Israel,” said Wiener, who usually never misses an opportunity to bemoan Muni’s lack of funding. “Those ads were vile, these ads are also vile.”
The ads, which run until June 6, read “End Apartheid Now!” and “Stop U.S. Aid to Israel.”

Please thank the seven Supervisors who have signed the SFMTA statement.

Scott Wiener, Supervisor, District 8, (415) 554-6968

London Breed, Supervisor, District 5, (415) 554-7630

Malia Cohen, Supervisor, District 10, (415) 554-7670

Mark Farrell, Supervisor, District 2, (415) 554-7752

Katy Tang, Supervisor, District 4, (415) 554-7460

Norman Yee, Supervisor, District 7, (415) 554-6516

David Chiu, Supervisor, District 3 and President of the Board, (415) 554-7450

The following members have not yet signed the statement. Please give them a call, and let them know how these ads defame the only democracy in the Middle east, and create an uncomfortable environment for those using public transit. Our beautiful city by the Bay should not become another battleground for the wars in the Middle East

John Avalos, Supervisor, District 11, (415) 554-6975

David Campos, Supervisor, District 9, (415) 554-5144

Jane Kim, Supervisor, District 6, (415) 554-7970

Eric Mar, Supervisor, District 1, (415) 554-7410

At JVP endorsed Rally, Israel is wiped off the Map

On May 19, 2013,  the American Muslims for Palestine held a Nakba rally on the steps of the State capital,  in Sacramento, California.  Endorsed by Jewish Voice for Peace, who staffed a table there as well, the event's various exhibits  not only denied the ties of the Jewish people to their ancient homeland, it denied Israel's right to exist- within any borders.

American Muslims for Palestine exhibit denies the existence of Israel within any borders

American Muslims for Palestine exhibit denies the existence of Israel within any borders

All of Israel, from the River to the Sea, was labeled as "Palestine"

The sparsely attended event was meant to perpetuate AMP's cult of victimhood. Was this outrageous display mean to imply that Palestinians were still living in tents?

Faked quotes, false narratives and fabricated maps were prevalent.

This particular "information" card claimed exports and construction material were banned from Gaza.

The truth?

In April alone,  1,135 trucks containing construction material entered Gaza.  Five truckloads of flowers and three truckloads of spices were exported from Gaza.  A month earlier, in March 2013, 1,358 trucks carrying construction material entered Gaza. Nine trucks of flowers, nine trucks of date bars, two trucks of cherry tomatoes,  two trucks of furniture and 1 truck of spices were exported from Gaza.

And of course, no anti-Israel event is complete without  ubiquitous fake key photos  and the lying four part map

Fortunately, the truth is available to those who seek it.

The exhibits, the chants of "No return, no peace" and the words of the speakers at this rally make it painfully clear that that AMP, Al -Awda, Sabeel,  JVP and the other endorsers do not support a Jewish state of Israel existing side by side with an Arab state of Palestine. Their extremist  agenda does not accept the existence of Israel within any borders. These fringe groups seek to deny the Jewish people their right to self determination , through the destruction of Israel.

MUNI Buses: The latest battleground for the war in the Middle East?

The war in the Middle east has moved to our MUNI buses, with the arrival of yet another series of deeply disturbing ads, this time sponsored by the American Muslims for Palestine. A consortium of local Jewish community organizations have joined together to condemn anti-Israel ads, in much the same manner as they did several months ago, to condemn ads that demeaned Islam. While acknowledging the constitutionally protected right of these organizations to run political ads, the statement expresses its concern regarding their polarizing and divisive nature.


The joint Statement from the Jewish Community Relations Council, The Anti-­Defamation League, and the American Jewish Committee reads:

Today, another misleading advertisement appeared in San Francisco targeting one segment of our community in an attempt to sow division in our city.

The Bay Area’s organized Jewish community strongly condemns the ad’s deceitful claim that Israel is an apartheid state. Placed by American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), the ad is morally reprehensible as it employs inflammatory rhetoric designed to delegitimize Israel’s very existence. The ad’s false claims diminish the suffering of the millions of people who were truly subjected to apartheid. The term “apartheid” describes the systematic oppression of the racial majority population by South Africa’s minority through comprehensive racial discrimination.

In sharp contrast to Apartheid South Africa, Israel is a diverse democratic country that affords equal political and civil rights to all its citizens.We hope for a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians and an end to the suffering on both sides.

In stark contrast, AMP’s apartheid rhetoric is profoundly misleading, and harms good faith efforts toward a peaceful resolution based on two states for two people.

Locally, the campaign promotes polarization and division among San Franciscans, who pride themselves on fostering Strong inter-­ethnic and inter-­religious relations.

The Jewish Community has long stated our concern that the repeated appearance of offensive anti-­Israel and anti-­Muslim ads is making our Public transit system a battleground for the Israeli-­Palestinian conflict. While protected by the First Amendment, extremist language directed at any group has no place in our city. We call upon all civic, ethnic and religious leaders who oppose bigoted lies and demonization to exercise their constitutional rights by condemning these inflammatory advertisements.

************
In the Orwellian world of the AMP, the JCRC statement, expressing its profound disappointment that our public transit system is being used in this manner has been labelled an "attack", an "attempt to stiffle open debate" and a "smear tactic used to shut down free speech". In classic AMP manner, the laundry list of  imagined slights is followed by a plea for donations.

The response of the American Muslims for Palestine is so far divorced from reality, I can't help but wonder if they even read the JCRC statement.  Perhaps Hatem needs  to work on his reading comprehension- the statement at no point  characterizes his efforts as "anti-Semitic", and his straw man arguments simply belie the failure of his organization to justify their actions.

...AMP has come under renewed attack by the Anti-Defamation League and the Jewish Community Relations Council, which are attempting to stifle open debate on these important issues by labeling any public critique of Israel as hateful and anti-Semitic.

“The attempt to characterize our efforts as anti-Semitic is a time-worn smear tactic used by pro-Israel organizations to shut down free speech. It is no more anti-Semitic to critique Israeli policies than it is Islamophobic to criticize Iran,” Dr. Bazian said.

AMP considers Jewish participation in our work to play an essential role in advocating for a better future for all the people of the Middle East. AMP has worked with such organizations as: Jewish Voice for Peace, Jews for Justice in Palestine, Jews for the Palestinian Right of Return and the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network. AMP routinely features Jewish speakers at its conferences and lectures.

While Israel denies its policies constitute apartheid, Tutu has said, “I’ve been very deeply distressed in my visit to the Holy Land; it reminded me so much of what happened to us black people in South Africa.”

The Jewish Voice for Peace has come out strongly in support of AMP and against attempts to stifle constitutionally protected political speech.

"Jewish Voice for Peace supports SF bus campaign criticizing Israeli human rights violations, condemns local Jewish Community Relation Council’s attempt to muzzle political speech."

"AMP remains determined to bring the truth to the American people, despite the scurrilous and false attacks by Zionist groups," said Kristin Szremski, AMP director of media and communications. "The fact the JCRC and the ADL are attacking us show that our efforts to educate the public are working and we remain more committed than ever to our mission."

AMP needs your support to continue its work. Help us bring the truth about Palestine to the American public. Donate now.   ********* To Kristin Szremski and to Hatem Bazian :  A campaign based on falsehood rests on a very shaky foundation. If your efforts are working so well, why do you feel the need to  lie, not only to the public, but to your core constituency?

Open questions to Jewish Voice for Peace

An open letter to Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) from a new blog: Engaging Zion

"Yes, this question is an accusation. I won’t pretend otherwise. You are my Jewish brothers and sisters, and I am living in Israel where some six million of your Jewish brothers and sisters — almost half of the Jewish people — face a virulent strain of annihilationist politics on our borders and in the broader region.

I must get one thing off the table up front: I do not question your right, moral or civil, as a diaspora Jewish organization to criticize — even harshly — the policies of Israel’s government. No government is above criticism, no politician is above the law. The issue of how to criticize, however, is a legitimate one for honest debate. I feel compelled to write this blog entry, because I am deeply troubled by your partnership choices.

My question is far deeper. For me, personally and literally, it is an existential one. This has to do with your partnering with a number of organizations to produce an ad campaign calling for the United States to stop all military aid to Israel. These ads are now appearing on the sides of San Francisco’s iconic cable cars and elsewhere. Nice placement, by the way.

Two of your partners in this endeavor are American Muslims for Palestine and Friends of Sabeel of North America. In my view, these groups are beyond the pale of what any organization that describes itself as “Jewish” should be partnering with. Here are my reasons:

On December 21, 2010 AMP issued a press release announcing a rally marking the second anniversary of Operation Cast Lead. The last sentence of the release declared:

Palestinians are more determined than ever to fight on until total liberation, until every refugee can return, until the land of Palestine is free from the river to the sea!

This statement is unequivocal. There is no room for Israel in this vision of “peace” promoted by your AMP partner.

This is not the first time you co-sponsored programming with AMP. Last winter you partnered with them and Sabeel in a similar ad campaign in San Francisco. Your slogan: “Be on our side. We are the side of peace and justice.” Really? AMP seeks our destruction, sorry, “liberation” from the “river to the see.” Peace?

Furthermore, AMP has at least one board member, Osama Abu Irshaid, who was involved in pro-Hamas activities in the U.S. He was editor of Al-Zaytounah, published by the now-defunct Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP), which with the Holy Land Fund, was a member of the Palestine Committee, court records show. This committee, other court records show, was created by the radical Muslim Brotherhood — Hamas’ parent body — to assist Hamas politically and financially. This is the side of “peace and justice?”

Dear JVP, some more questions:
Were you aware that AMP takes such a clear position calling for Israel’s destruction?

If not, now that you know, will you distance yourself from this organization and have no further dealings with them?

If you don’t, should I take that as meaning you condone this position?
Do you see that AMP’s purpose for calling for an end to U.S. military aid to Israel is to forward the goal of weakening Israel so it no longer can defend itself against terrorism or hostile armies?
Lest I be accused of either fear mongering or delusional fantasy, I direct you to just one (of numerous) annihilationist statements made by Iranian President Ahmadinejad. On August 27 (last week) he said that “Egyptian-Iranian relations in the post-Mubarak era will eliminate the presence of the Zionist entity.” According to the Ahlul Bayt News Agency, under the headline “Ahmadinejad: Egyptian-Iranian alliance can eliminate Israel,” he made these comments in an interview with Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV where, “Ahmadinejad addressed Egyptian society, expecting that Egypt will play a key regional role in the coming period.”

One more thing: please take a look at this headline from today’s Ha’aretz: IAEA: Iran reaches breakthrough in suspected nuclear weapons push.

Not fantasy. Not fear-mongering. Just cold, hard reality: one of Iran’s chief foreign policy goals is Israel’s “elimination.”

My read of things: your partner, the AMP, seeks to weaken Israel militarily (as do you). This would greatly benefit Iran and other hostile states whose goal is to liberate Palestine “from the river to the sea.” Given the fact that Israelis are willing to fight for their right to exist, this slogan has only one meaning: war.

How is this the “side of peace”?"

The blog continues, taking on JVP's partnership with Sabeel. Not only has JVP co-sponsored these bus ads with the Sabeel group, they are sharing a booth for the second time, at an East Bay Street festival. In previous years, JVP had shared a booth with Alison Weir's hate group "If America Knew" and the International Solidarity Movement at the Marin County Fair .

Read more at Engaging Zion